Dartford go into the weekend as the team to catch in the Isthmian Premier as they sit top of the table just two points clear of Billericay Town and Horsham who are level on points with boss Ady Pennock keen to win two local derbies.

Boss Ady Pennock has spoken to KSN ahead of the Easter games – two massive Kent derbies against Play Off chasing Dover Athletic at Princes Park on Good Friday before travelling to Flamingo Park and Cray Wanderers on Easter Monday. 

“We’re enjoying it, we really are,” Pennock admitted, “I’ve told you before that we are really punching above our weight and what the players have done is marvelous; we are guaranteed to be in the Play Offs now which is an unbelievable achievement.”

“We now have three massive games till the end of the season – three very hard games – to possibly go one better and go up as Champions. We are just enjoying the ride!” 

The Darts welcome Carshalton Athletic to Princes Park to end the season, leaving Pennock’s side having two of the last three at home, but Pennock doesn’t think that gives his side any advantage.

“Our home support has been absolutely fantastic since I have been at the football club, so hopefully it will give us an advantage, but it will be so hard.”

“Three very difficult games, but there are no easy games in our League – we will go through things one game at a time, concentrate on what we do and go from there and hopefully at the end of next week, we will have something to celebrate!” 

With two points separating the top three and five points covering three teams going for the last two Play Off places, excitement is growing for the finale of the season.

“At least it’s better than the Premiership,” Pennock joked! “The Premier League, I find it unbelievably boring and would much sooner have the excitement that you get as you come lower down, Championship, Football League and into Non-League really is the place to go and watch football as I think if you want excitement, proper football, proper tackles and no VAR, come to our level as it’s proper football in my opinion and it’s thoroughly entertaining!” 

Good Friday sees fifth places Dover Athletic heading for Princes Park in a derby that could go a long way in settling the race for the Play Offs as well as the title itself.

“That’s down to the two sides I think,” Pennock said. “Both sides have punched well above their weight this season. If you look at the two stadiums, without doubt they are the two best stadiums by far, but behind the scenes financially we are both way behind other teams; Jake (Leberl – the Dover boss) has done remarkably well there and both teams have some very good youngsters and I just hope that it will be a really entertaining game as both teams have done exceptionally well this season and I’m really looking forward to it!” 

“Then Monday we go to Cray in another local derby – another really tough game in an unbelievably hard run-in. Cray have got some very good results since Neil (Smith) went to Crawley.”

“Things haven’t changed there, it is a very hard place to go, and they are flying – one of the form teams in the League. We just must concentrate on what we are doing and let the other teams worry about us.” 

“We are top of the League for a reason, and I can tell you I’d much rather be under this “pressure” than fighting relegation – it’s almost “lovely” pressure! We are definitely not title favourites, I’d say it was Horsham and Billericay!”